Officials Preparing for Grand Opening of New and Improved Shining Mountain Links
Trevor Phipps
Ever since the city of Woodland Park announced that it was making the unprecedented move to purchase the Shining Mountain Golf Course for more than $3 million, local links and recreation fanatics have been chomping at the bits in anticipation of learning specific details.
So far, the city has remained relatively silent on announcing any official updates regarding the property, featuring an 18-hole course, several frisbee disc layouts and a two-story clubhouse, a spacious bar and event center and kitchen. Shortly after the city purchased the property, the links development, which originally opened in late 1994, closed for the winter season.
Despite a “no news” links stance, city officials say the staff is on track to open the course for the 2026 season as soon as weather permits. At least for 2026, the city is planning on the championship course running as “business as usual,” similar to the way it has in the past, but with an emphasis on better maintenance.
“Right now, we (the city) are trying to get our legs underneath it and just make sure that it is functioning and operating for the patrons and citizens as soon as it can be,” Councilman and future WP Mayor George Jones told TMJ. “There is a lot of work going on internally in the event center. Most of that will be officially announced in the first part of March,” said Jones, who will assume the WP mayoral spot in early April.
Over the past few months, staffers have been conducting much needed work on the facility. Most of the work done up until this point has consisted of basic cleaning and maintenance efforts.
According to Jones, the specific operations of the course have not yet been decided on. But, he did say that some of the former golf course employees were retained and added to city staff.
When the city first purchased the golf course, event center and open space property, they mentioned two options on how management of the course would move forward. One option was that the city could find a management company or firm that could operate the golf course and bar/restaurant.
But according to Jones, the city has not quite decided on who exactly will be in charge of the course in 2026 and beyond. “I think all of the options are still on the table,” Jones said.
Currently the golf course has been keeping open its doors for certain events. A cornhole tournament has been taking place there, and other events, such as the American Legion’s Pig Roast are also scheduled to take place at the Shining Mountain Event Center during the summer.
In past years, the golf course waited to open until the snow stopped flying and temperatures warmed up enough to sustain the grass. The course opened for play in early May during the last few seasons.
City Searching for Golf Management Company
Even though the city hasn’t made many official announcements, it seems staff has been working quietly behind the doors to find businesses that can operate the course and the property’s amenities. Starting on Jan. 15, the city of Woodland Park posted two “Request for Proposals” (RFPs) related to the operation of the golf course. Both of the RFPs were open on the Bidnet.com website for eligible businesses to submit their proposals by Feb. 16.
One of the RFPs was searching for a company that could manage all of the operations on the golf course side of things. “The City of Woodland Park is soliciting proposals from qualified and experienced golf course management firms to provide comprehensive management services for Shining Mountain Golf Course, recently acquired by the City,” the RFP description states. “The City seeks a professional partner to operate the golf course in a manner that enhances golfer experience, ensures financial sustainability, and aligns with the City’s community-focused values. This RFP is intended to identify a management firm with demonstrated expertise in public or municipal golf course operations, customer service excellence, tournament and golf-specific event coordination, and retail/pro shop management.”
The second RFP posted by the city had to do with providing food options at the course. According to Jones, the kitchen inside Shining Mountain’s Event Center currently needs a lot of work.
So instead of finding someone who can produce culinary options out of the building’s kitchen, the city is searching for a food truck operator who will sign a year contract to feed golfers and facility and event-users. “The City seeks a fully self-contained food service operation that enhances the golfer and visitor experience while operating independently,” the RFP description states.
Now that the deadline for proposals have passed, the city will work on deciding the best route to take. According to Jones, City Manager Aaron Vassalotti, Assistant City Manager Rob Felts and Parks and Recreation Director Cindy Keating are currently who in charge of working out the details of the golf course’s management over the next several weeks.
“They will look at the responses they get (from the RFPs) and see if that’s directionally where they want to go,” Jones explained.
